Paper machinery



July 12, 1966 R. L. HILL 3,260,433

PAPER MACHINERY Filed June 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. HILL ATTORNEYS R. L. HILL PAPER MACHINERY July 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. HILL WMQM /W ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ohio Filed June 4, 1963, Set. No. 285,349 9 Claims. (Cl. 226) This invention relates to paper machinery, and particularly to a festoon dryer for drying coatings which have been applied to a Web material, such as paper.

Festoon dryers are used in the paper industry for drying coatings which have been applied to webs of paper or similar material by forming the coated paper into loops or festoons and moving the same through a dryer hood. The festoons are supported in spaced relation in the dryer hood by parallel bars or sticks having their opposite ends supported in hooks mounted on parallel endless chains which move the sticks, and hence the loops of paper, through the dryer hood wherein the air temperature and humidity are closely controlled for drying the coating on the web.

Dryers of this type are inherently slow since the rate of movement of the paper therethrough is limited by the speed at which the loops are formed and removed. It is possible to expand the dryer hood in length thus permitting the loops to be moved therethrough at a faster rate of speed While being exposed to the necessary heat for the period of time required to dry the coating thereon. However, this increased speed requires high speed removal of the paper from the sticks Which causes a pocket of air to be trapped in the loop so that as one side is pulled upwardly, the entire loop tends to become unstable and to sway from side to side, causing creasing and possible tearing of the paper. In addition, when these loops are pulled upward at a high rate of speed, inertia will often cause the bottom of the loop to overshoot the path of travel causing unanticipated stressing of the web with possible tearing thereof or damage to its coating.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved festoon dryer system which increases the rate at which the web can be moved therethrough, and particularly to provide apparatus for increasing the rate at which the loops can be formed and removed while eliminating the aforesaid disadvantages commonly associated with high speed operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dryer of the aforesaid type wherein the sticks can be smoothly and quickly moved apart a predetermined distance to facilitate the formation or removal of the loop of paper or other web material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for festoon drying which will sequentially remove the loop supporting sticks from a supporting endless conveyor and gradually accelerate them so that the distance between adjacent loops is increased during removal of the web, and then gradually decelerate each successive stick and return it to the conveyor with the interval between adjacent sticks being the same as the original interval therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 isa diagrammatic side view of a festoon dryer near the exit end with the dryer hood removed and showing primarily the components of the dryer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view illustrating in greater detail the components of the dryer in accordance with this invention;

3,2t5@,433 Patented July 12, F366 FIG. 3 is a sectional view through both sides of the festooned dryer of FIG. 1 taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 with the web removed; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the drive apparatus taken essentially along the view line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the inventin is illustrated, FIG. 1 shows the exit or dry end of a festooned dryer which comprises a pair of horizontally spaced track assemblies 16) between which the festoons or loops 12 of paper are supported by the elongated rods or sticks 13. Each of the sticks 13 has an end portion 14 of reduced diameter (see FIG. 3) which is supported in a U-shaped hook 15 (FIG. 2) secured at equally spaced intervals on the endless chains 17. These chains are supported for movement along a controlled path on opposite sides of the dryer, and are driven by sprockets 18 suitably connected to a source of rotary power M.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the elongated track assemblies 10 includes upper and lower track members 20 and 21 which together define the slot 23 for receiving the ends 14 of the stick 13. The lower track member 21 has an angle iron 25 or the like rigidly connected thereto, e.g., by welding, for supporting vertically the associated chain 1 as it moves through the assembly below the slot 23.

To aid in the movement of the sticks 13 into the guide slots 2.3, the right-hand or entrance and of the lower track member 21 is provided with a gradually sloped entrance cam 27 for gradually raising the ends 14 of the stocks 1*?) from the hooks 15 as the chain 17 passes by the cam 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the trailing side 30 of each hook 15 extends higher than the opposite or leading side 31 so that the sticks 13 can be moved into the guide slots 23 and engaged by the barrel earns 35, as described below, without interference from the hooks 15. Also at the exit end of the track assemblies 10, the lower track member 21 has a gradually tapered exit cam 36 for lowering the ends 14 of the sticks 13 back into the books 15, as will be described.

The elongated cylinders or barrel earns 35 are mounted parallel to and on the outboard side of each track assembly for the purpose of engaging the ends 14 and moving the sticks 13 through the slot 23 at an increased rate of speed. The support shafts 37 on each end of the barrel earns 35 are rotatably supported on the machine frame F by suitable bearings 38 and may be provided with a mechanism (not shown) for rotating and axially orienting the position of barrel cams 35 with respect to the track assemblies 10.

A channel 40 for receiving the ends 14 of the sticks 13 is formed on each of the barrel earns 35 between two parallel cam ridges 42 and 43 which are wrapped around and welded or otherwise secured thereto. The channel 40 is constructed so that the pitch or axial distance a between adjacent convolutions progressively increases from the entrance or right-hand end 4-5 through approximately the right-hand two-thirds of the barrel cam 35, so that when the ends 14 are engaged by the channel 40, the speed of the rods 13 is gradually increased to a comparatively high rate of speed thereby increasing the spacing between the adjacent sticks. Conversely, the pitch of the con volutions near the terminal or left end 46, as viewed in FIG. 2, of each of the barrel cams 35 gradually decreases, and the velocity of the stick 13 is gradually slowed to the speed of the chains 17, and thus the hooks 15.

While the channel 40 is illustrated as being formed by two ridges 42 and 43 which are wrapped around and secured to the barrel cam 35, it is within the scope of the invention to form a groove or depression in each of the barrel cams to form the channels 40. A single ridge could also be formed on the barrel with an appropriately shaped slot on the ends 14 of the stick 13 for engaging this single ridge so that the movement of the stick through the slot 23 is controlled by rotation of the barrel cam 35.

Each barrel cam 35 is driven by the same mechanism which drives the endless chains 17 and provides a convenient expedient for correlating their relative speeds and synchronizing their operations so that the entrance portion of the channel 40 will engage each stick 13 as it is moved onto the entrance cam 27. Thus a source of rotary power, e.g., an electric motor M, drives the transfer shaft 50 (FIG. 4) which extends across both the track assemblies 10 and has both the drive sprockets 18 mounted thereon for effecting movement of the chains 17 to move the paper festoons 12 through the dryer from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 4.

The drive shaft 50 also supplies rotary power to the gear boxes 51 which drive the barrel earns 35 and are mounted on either side of the track assemblies 10. Thus the sprockets 52 are secured to the shaft and drive the input gears 54 of the gear boxes through the chain 55, as shown in FIG. 4. The gear boxes 51 appropriately alter the input speed so that the output shafts 56 thereof, which are connected by the chain 58 to the support shafts 37, will drive the barrel cams 35 at a speed synchronized with the movement of the chains 17 so that the sticks will be removed from and replaced in the hooks 15 at the appropriate times, as will be described.

In operation, as the chain 17 moves horizontally from right to left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends 14 of sticks 13 are moved into cooperation with the track assemblies and are cammed upwardly by the entrance cam 27 from the associated hooks and into the guide slot 23. Before the sticks 13 are completely free of the hooks 15, they are engaged by the entrance to the channels 40 in the barrel cams which, due to the gradually increasing pitch of the channels 40, immediately begin to accelerate the horizontal movement of the sticks 13 and thus increase the distance between adjacent sticks. Since the trailing side of the hooks 15 is higher than the leading side thereof, the channels will engage each stick 13 while it is being pushed along the cam 27 so that the movement of the sticks 13 is always under control.

As the barrel cam 35 rotates, each stick 13 is gradually accelerated to increase the spacing between it and the adjacent stick on the upstream or right side thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stabilizing rolls 60 have substantially eliminated the previous loop 12a and are beginning to unloop the festoon 12b, and the loop 120 shown in broken lines illustrates an intermediate position. When the loops are in the position shown by the loop 12c, the distance between the sticks 13 has been greatly increased so that, during the removal of the major portion of the loop, the distance between the adjacent sticks is at least several times the normal interval. After the take-up equipment has completely moved a loop, its stick 13 is decelerated by the last few convolutions of the channel 40 after which the stick is placed in another hook 15 on the chain 17. In the meantime, the adjacent stick 13 has been moved into the position wherein its loop is being removed.

The speed of the chain movement, the spacing between adjacent hooks 15 on the chains 17, the length of the barrel cam 35, the number of convolutions of the channel 40 thereon, as well as the speed at which the barrel cam 35 is rotated, are the variables which must be considered in designing the mechanism so that the channel 40 will engage and release the sticks 13 at the appropriate times. For example, a barrel cam speed of 133.3 r.p.m., a chain speed of 50 f.p.m, and a 1.5 ft. spacing between hooks 15, will cause the channel 40 to pick up one stick 13 every fourth revolution of the barrel cam 35. That is,

four revolutions of cam 35 will take 4/ 133.3 minutes, and during this time the chain will move 50 ft. min.

If the barrel cam is 9 ft. in length and is provided with 8 complete convolutions of the channel 40, it will take 1.II1.50 H1111.

to move a stick completely through the channel. In this time the chain advances 3/50 min. 50 f.p.m.=3 ft.

so that a hook 15 will be aligned with the exit cam 36 for receiving the stick 13 as it leaves the barrel cam 35. It should be apparent that the sticks 13 are returned to hooks on the chains 17 at a point forward of the hooks 15 from which they were removed. In the example, the chain 17 moves only three feet while the sticks 13 are moving through the 9 ft. length of the barrel cam, so that the sticks are replaced in hooks spaced 6 ft. ahead of the hooks from which they were removed. This example is provided for purposes of illustrating one possible combination of the various speeds and dimensions required for operation as described above, and is intended in no way to limit the present invention.

The present invention can also be utilized at the entrance or loop forming end of the drier wherein the formation of the loops could be greatly facilitated by momentarily spacing the adjacent sticks a comparatively large distance apart so that the loop can be more easily formed therebetween. Similarly, it is within the scope of this invention to utilize it in other applications wherein it is desirable to momentarily increase the spacing between adjacent elements being conveyed in a similar manner by a chain or belt.

The invention has accordingly provided apparatus for facilitating the formation and removal of loops of paper or other web material from a festoon drier by momentarily increasing the spacing between adjacent sticks so that the loop can be formed or removed with much less difiiculty than has heretofore been known. While the invention has been shown and described as removing and then replacing the sticks on the endless conveyors, it is within the scope of this invention to utilize other and different apparatus for handling the stick subsequent to the removal of the paper loops. The invention can also be utilized to transfer the sticks of one chain system to another chain system.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a festoon dryer including two parallel conveyors each having a plurality of equally spaced support hook means thereon for receiving and holding the ends of the rods which support the paper loops, the combination of means for successively removing the rods from the hooks and accelerating the rate of movement of the rods to increase the distance between adjacent rods thereby facilitating the handling of the paper loops.

2. In a festoon dryer including two parallel conveyors each having a plurality of equally spaced support hooks or the like thereon for receiving and holding the ends of the rods which support the paper loops, the combination of means for removing a rod from the hooks and accelerating the rate of movement thereof to increase the distance between adjacent rods to facilitate the handling of the paper loops, and means for decelerating the rate of movel.5 ft.

ment of the rod to the rate of movement of the conveyors and then returning the rod to books which are spaced on the conveyors downstream a predetermined distance from the hooks which originally held the rod.

3. A festoon dryer including a conveyor for holding the ends of the rods which support the paper loops in spaced relation, comprising first drive means for moving the conveyors through the dryer, cam means disposed adjacent each of the conveyors for removing each of the rods therefrom, track means aligned with said cam means for receiving the ends of the rods and for guiding the movement of the same in a path above and parallel to the conveyors, and second drive means associated with said track means for engaging the ends of the rods and moving the same through said track means at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyors thereby increasing the distance between the adjacent rods and facilitating the handling of the paper loops.

4. A festoon dryer including two parallel conveyors each having a plurality of equally spaced support hooks thereon for holding the ends of the rods which support the paper loops, comprising first drive means for moving the conveyors and the loops through the dryer, cam means disposed adjacent each of the conveyors for removing the ends of the rods from the hooks, track means aligned with the downstream end of said cam means for receiving the ends of the rods from said cam means and for guiding the movement thereof in a path above and parallel to the conveyors, and second drive means associated with said track means for engaging the ends of the rods as they enter said track means and for moving the same through said track means at a speed which gradually increases to a speed greater than the speed of the conveyors to increase the distance between associated rods for facilitating the handling of the paper loops.

5. A festoon dryer comprising two parallel conveyors each having a plurality of equally spaced U-shaped hooks or the like thereon for holding the ends of the rods which support paper loops, first drive means for moving said conveyors to advance said rods through the dryer, entrance cam means disposed adjacent each of said conveyors for raising each of said rods upwardly from said hooks as the conveyor moves said hooks into cooperation therewith, track means aligned with said cam means for receiving the ends of said rods and for guiding the movement of said rods in a path above and parallel to said conveyors, second drive means associated with said track means for engaging said ends of the said rods and moving the same through said track means at a speed greater than the speed of said conveyors thereby increasing the distance between the adjacent rods and facilitating the handling of the paper loops, and exit cam means disposed adjacent the downstream end of said track means for returning each of said rods to said hooks on said conveyor, said first and second drive means being correlated so that one of said hooks is positioned to receive each end of each said rod as it leaves said exit cam means.

6. In a festoon dryer including two parallel conveyors each having a plurality of equally spaced support hooks thereon for receiving the ends of the rods which support the paper loops, and first drive means for moving the conveyors through the dryer, the combination of cam means disposed adjacent each of the conveyors for raising each of the rods upwardly from the hooks as the conveyors move the hooks into cooperation therewith, track means aligned with said cam means having a guide slot defined therein above and parallel to the conveyors for receiving the rods near the ends thereof so that the rods extend therethrough, an elongated cylinder disposed adjacent and parallel to each of said track means, means defining a channel on the exterior surface of said cylinder for engagement with said ends, said channel having a plurality of convolutions with the pitch between adjacent convolutions gradually increasing from the entrance end thereof, said channel having an entrance portion for receiving the ends of the rods which project through said track means, and second drive means for rotating said cylinder in correlation with said first drive means to align said entrance portion of said channel with each rod as it is moved onto the said cam means so that the distance between adjacent rods is increased thus facilitating handling of the paper loops.

7. The method of handling paper in a festoon dryer having parallel conveyors each with a plurality of equally spaced hooks or the like thereon for receiving and holding the rods which support the loops of paper, comprising the steps of sequentially removing each of the rods from the hooks, then accelerating the rate of movement of the removed rod for increasing the distance between the removed rod and the adjacent trailing rod, and removing the loop of paper while these rods are spaced apart said increased distance.

8. The method of handling paper in a festoon dryer having parallel conveyors each with a plurality of equally spaced hooks or the like thereon for receiving and holding the rods which support the loops of paper, comprising the steps of sequentially removing each of the rods from the hooks, and then moving the removed rod at a speed greater than the speed of the conveyors in a path above and parallel to the conveyors for creating an increased distance between the removed rod and the adjacent trailing rod.

9. The method of handling paper in a festoon dryer having parallel conveyors each with a plurality of equally spaced hooks or the like thereon for receiving and holding the rods which support the loops of paper, comprising the steps of sequentially removing each of the rods from the hooks; then accelerating the removed rod for creating an increased distance between the removed rod and the adjacent trailing rod, removing the loop of paper supported by these rods while they are spaced apart said increased distance, and then replacing the removed rod in hooks on the conveyor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 518,508 4/1894 Mather et a1. 226-107 WILLIAM F ODEA, Primary Examiner.

A. D. HERRMANN, Assistant Examiner. 

9. THE METHOD OF HANDLING PAPER IN A FESTOON DRYER HAVING PARALLEL CONVEYORS EACH WITH A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED HOOKS OR THE LIKE THEREON FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING THE RODS WHICH SUPPORT THE LOOPS OF PAPER, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SEQUENTIALLY REMOVING EACH OF RODS FROM THE HOOKS; THEN ACCELERATING THE REMOVED ROD FOR CREATING AN INCREASED DISTANCE BETWEEN THE REMOVED ROD AND THE ADJACENT TRAILING ROD, REMOVING THE LOOP OF PAPER SUPPORTED BY THESE RODS WHILE THEY ARE SPACED APART SAID INCREASED DISTANCE, AND THEN REPLACING THE REMOVED ROD IN HOOKS ON THE CONVEYOR. 